Maricopa supervisors change medical pot zoning rules

Maricopa County supervisors changed county zoning rules to disallow medical-marijuana dispensaries or cultivation sites on county land unless pot becomes a federally approved drug.

The Arizona Republic reports the county got rid of its zoning definitions for dispensaries and cultivation sites and reclassified them as buildings whose uses must not be in conflict with any federal, state or county law. Marijuana is prohibited under the federal Controlled Substances Act.

The change was prompted by County Attorney Bill Montgomery’s advice to the board to opt out of the state’s medical-marijuana program for fear of a federal backlash against county employees who carry out the law.

The medical-marijuana program is on hold pending the settlement of a lawsuit seeking clarification from a federal judge on the law’s implications for state and local employees.

2 comments

Since Maricopa County zoning department personnel will no longer be “facilitating” or “aiding and abetting”, does Montgomery have to withdraw his Motion to Intervene in Gov. Jan’s MMJ suit against the Feds? His concern for county employees would almost be touching if it weren’t an obvious fig leaf that failed to cover his personal bias against cannabis.